Looping toy plane



Jan. 29, 1957 E. F. GERARD 2,779,130

LOOPING TOY PLANE Filed Dec. '7, 1954 E dward. F. Gerard I INVENTOR.

BY WM Mg,

UnitedStates Patent O LOOPING TOY PLANE Edward F. Gerard, Bellingham, Wash.

Application December 7, 1954, Serial No. 473,596

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-58) This invention relates to a toy, and more specifically provides an improved toy which simulates a pair of planes moving in a continuous circle about an axis of rotation wherein the device acts as a propeller and is motivated by air impinging against the planes mounted at opposite ends of a rotating arm wherein the planes are disposed in angular relation to the path of air movement wherein one of the planes is forced downwardly while the other of the planes is forced upwardly, thereby rotating the arm about a central axis.

An object of the present invention is to provide a looping toy plane construction which is simple in design, novel, intriguing, easy to operate, well adapted for its intended purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wind driven propeller type toy having a pair of planes forming air engaging surfaces for rotating the propeller.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view showing the looping toy planes of the present invention and showing the direction of rotation thereof;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the construction of Figure 1 showing the angular relationship of the toy planes to each other and to the supporting device;

Figure 3 is a detailed, sectional view taken substan tially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of the attachment for the rotating arm on the support member; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the details of construction of one of the toy planes and illustrating the fiat fuselage and the simplicity of construction of the toy plane.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the iooping toy planes of the present invention including a support generally designated by the numeral 12 and including a right angular member having an elongated vertical leg 14 which generally forms a handle and a horizontal leg at the upper end of the vertical leg 14 designated by the numeral 16. The vertical leg 14 which forms a handle may be gripped by a persons hand or may be attached to a suitable vehicle or the like, such as a bicycle, tricycle, automobile, wherein the looping toy 10 will be activated by the relative movement of the air past the toy 10. The outer end of the horizontal leg 16 of the support 12 is provided with a reduced externally threaded axial projection 18 which forms a shoulder 20. Rotatably positioned on the projection 18 is an arm 22 having an aperture 24 therein that is larger in cross-sectional area than the projection 18 for positioning thereon. A fastening nut 26 is threaded onto the projection 18 for retaining the arm 22 rotatably on the projection 18 and in engagement with the shoulder 20 wherein the arm 22 is captively and rotatably held on the projection 18.

I On each outer end of the arm 22 is disposed a toy plane designated by the numeral 28 and including a generally fiat and elongated fuselage 30 having a dorsal fin 32 at the rear upper edge thereof. The dorsal fin 32 is provided with a pair of rudders 34 projecting outwardly therefrom in a horizontal plane and the fuselage 30 is provided with a pair of projecting wings 36 adjacent the front edge thereof wherein the wings are also disposed in a horizontal plane and are swept rearwardly substantially wood or the like. Projecting forwardly from'the front.

end of the fuselage 30 is a right angular wire member 38 having a pointed end 40 on the vertical leg thereof wherein the pointed end 40 is inserted into the end of the arm 22 wherein the airplanes 28 are secured to the arm 22 on opposite ends thereof.

Referring now specifically to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the planes 28 project on opposite sides of the arm 22, that is, one of the planes 28 projects upwardly and the other of the planes 28 projects downwardly. As illustrated in Figure 2, both of the planes 28 are inclined rearwardly or towards the support 12 wherein the fuselages 30 form acute angles in relation to the plane of rotation of the arm 22 and the plane of the vertical leg of the support 12 wherein the flat fuselages form forwardly facing and inclined surfaces for engagement by air passing over the toy 10. It is noted that the inclined relation of the fiat fuselages 30 will urge the upwardly and rearwardly extending plane 28 downwardly and the downwardly and rearwardly extending plane 28 upwardly, thereby urging the arm 22 to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the horizontal leg 16 of the support 12. Obviously, the device may be constructed of suitable plastics, wood or other similar materials and may be attached to various vehicles or held in ones hand. Further, other simulated objects may be positioned on the ends of the arm 22 for impingement of air wherein the reaction of the air against the surfaces will rotate the arm 22 and operate the toy.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A toy comprising a support, an arm rotatably mounted on said support, and a toy plane positioned at each end of said arm in angular relation for rotating said arm when air moves against said planes, each of said toy planes including an elongated fuselage member having relatively large flat sides, and a right angular member joining the forward end of said fuselage member to the end of said arm, each of said fuselage members forming an acute angle with the plane of rotation of the arm and extending from opposite sides of said arm wherein the flat sides of said fuselage members form oppositely dis posed surfaces on opposite ends of said arm for rotating said arm when air impinges on said surfaces.

2. A toy comprising a support, an arm rotatably mounted on said support, and a toy plane positioned at each end of said arm in angular relation for rotating said arm when air moves against said planes, said support including a Patented Jan. 29, 19571 generally right angular member having a vertical leg forming .a handle and a horizontal leg having said arm rotatably attached to the free end thereof, each of said toy planes including an elongated fuselage member having relatively large flat sides, and a right angular member joining the forward end of said fuselage member to the end .of said arm, each of said fuselage members forming an acute angle with the plane of rotation of the arm and extending from opposite sides of said am wherein the flatsides of said fuselage members form oppositely disposed surfaces on opposite ends of said arm for rotating said arm when air impinges on said surfaces.

3. A toy comprising a support, an arm rotatably mounted on saidsupport, and a toy plane positioned at each end of :said arm in angular relation for rotating-said arm when air moves against said planes, said support including agenerally right angular member having a vertical leg forming a handle and a horizontal leg having said arm rotatably attached to the free end thereof, each of said toy planes including an elongated fuselage member having relatively large flat sides, and a right angular member joining the forward end of said fuselage member to the end of said arm, each of said fuselage members forming an acute angle with the plane of rotation of the arm and extending from opposite sides of said arm wherein the flat sides of said fuselage members form oppositely disposed surfaces on opposite ends of said arm for rotating said arm when air impinges on said surfaces, said right angular member connecting the fuselage to said arm including a pointed end for insertion into the end of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

